We are delighted to welcome author Rich DiSilvio to Omnimystery News today.
Rich's new dark thriller is My Nazi Nemesis (DV Books; January 2016 trade paperback and ebook formats) and we asked him to give us the backstory to it.
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Photo provided courtesy of
Rich DiSilvio
I'm often asked how the story of My Nazi Nemesis came about. Oddly enough, it materialized from only the first scene of the novel, which had been a recurring dream I had over a two-year period. The vivid and haunting "Deathfall" scene had finally driven me to the point of sitting down to try to build a full picture out of this one little puzzle piece.
This brief scene only involved the two main characters, who obviously hated each other and engaged in a deadly confrontation, but that was all. There was no reason why they hated each other, so that critical motive had to be created. As such, I sat down and began the more difficult task of constructing motives and jotting down a rough outline. That took only a few days and I then eagerly jumped into writing, which flowed rather quickly.
Having a friend who is a Federal Marshall, and who is a bit crazy, in a good sense, and very humorous, even in moments of facing danger, he became the basic foundation for Jack Goodwin, the protagonist. Naturally, fictional characters take on a life of their own once you begin writing, and the same is true here, as Jack Goodwin took on other traits from my imagination and I'm sure subconsciously from people I have met or read about in my life.
Anyhow, Jack Goodwin became an endearing and charismatic character, one that I truly enjoyed creating. I also loved the adventures he took me on. There's a magical mystery in writing fiction that I find fascinating and compelling, as it boggles the mind how characters become very independent during the creative process, who, more often than not, take me on detours off the outline's original path, thus necessitating revisions. And Jack's escapades and predicaments became a cascade of white-water rapids that eventually led to a perilous waterfall.
The introduction of Jack's love interest, Veronika Scaliakov, also led me down a sub path, yet her direction inevitably led to Auschwitz, which was an objective of mine. The Nazi death camps have always fascinated me, whether it was finding it difficult to imagine the horrors committed, or why and how so many could have heartlessly engaged in the killing spree, and I consciously made it a point to incorporate the Holocaust into the story line, which became a sub plot featuring Veronika as the heroine.
Although the main plot centers on the rivalry between Jack and his Nazi nemesis, Alois Richter, Veronika and her daughter Eleanor take on critical roles of their own. Therefore, the story has more than one plot and as the mysteries and suspense developed, it became a bit more complex and intriguing. And in those regards, I think that's why both men and women are finding My Nazi Nemesis appealing.
But don't take my word for it, feel free to read the first three chapters online and see for yourself at DVBooks.net. While there, you can enter to win a giveaway, play the quiz, and read brief character portraits of several key characters.
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Rich DiSilvio is an author of suspenseful thrillers, historical fiction, and nonfiction. He has written articles and commentaries for magazines on various topics and four books.
DiSilvio's work in the entertainment industry includes projects for historical documentaries, including James Cameron's The Lost Tomb of Jesus, Killing Hitler: The True Story of the Valkyrie Plot, The War Zone series, Return to Kirkuk, Operation Valkyrie, and cable TV shows and films such as Tracey Ullman's State of the Union, Celebrity Mole, Monty Python: Almost the Truth, and many others. Rich lives in New York with his wife and has four children.
For more information about the author, please visit his website at RichDiSilvio.com and his author page on Goodreads, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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My Nazi Nemesis by Rich DiSilvio
A Dark Thriller
Publisher: DV Books
Jack Goodwin is a savvy CIA agent oozing with charisma, yet saddled with baggage. Haunted by a dark past for fifteen years, Jack finally reveals all to his daughter, Eleanor.
As an OSS agent during the war, Jack had been involved in a series of near-death engagements, from failed sorties and secret missions, to a horrifying encounter with Auschwitz, to having met and married Eleanor's mother, Veronika.
But the flames of passion had died when a prying Waffen SS officer, Alois Richter, entered the fray. With an amorous eye for Jack's bride and a suspicious plea to join the OSS, Alois had sent Jack's world into a catastrophic tailspin with tragic results.
Fueled with revenge, father and daughter join forces to hunt down his long-time nemesis. But when disturbing evidence arises, Eleanor is forced to reevaluate the mission, as intrigue, murder, and suspense abound, leading to a climatic face-off that reaches unexpected and terrifying heights.
— My Nazi Nemesis by Rich DiSilvio. Click here to take a Look Inside the book.
